Claims
- 1. An apparatus for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon adjustable in elevation about an elevation axis, said apparatus comprising:
- supply means for cartridges to be transported to a region at least in a neighborhood of the elevation axis of the firing weapon;
- deflection means cooperating with the supply means for deflecting the cartridges according to a given elevation of the firing weapon and for infeeding the cartridges into the firing weapon;
- said deflection means comprising a substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel connected to the firing weapon;
- said substantially helical non-flexible cartridges feed channel defining an infeed opening and an outfeed opening;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to the elevation axis at said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel being located at the region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis of the firing weapon and during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon remaining at the region at least in the neighborhood of the elevation axis;
- said firing weapon containing a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis;
- the cartridge being arranged substantially parallel to said weapon barrel axis at said outfeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- each cartridge of said cartridges possessing a center of gravity;
- said cartridges being located within said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel such that said centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix;
- said helix substantially along which there are positioned said centers of gravity of the cartridges within said substantially helical non-flexible feed channel defines a lengthwise helix axis;
- said helix being located along the surface of an imaginary cylinder defining a lengthwise cylinder axis;
- said lengthwise helix axis substantially coinciding with said lengthwise cylinder axis; and
- said lengthwise helix axis extending at an inclination angle of substantially 45.degree. with respect to said elevation axis as well as with respect to said weapon barrel axis and which elevation axis and weapon barrel axis cross each other in space at substantially right angles.
- 2. An apparatus for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon adjustable in elevation about an elevation axis, said apparatus comprising:
- supply means for cartridges to be transported to a region at least in a neighborhood of the elevation axis of the firing weapon;
- deflection means cooperating with the supply means for deflecting the cartridges according to a given elevation of the firing weapon and for infeeding the cartridges into the firing weapon;
- said deflection means comprising a substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel connected to the firing weapon;
- said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel defining an infeed opening and an outfeed opening;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to the elevation axis at said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel being located at the region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis of the firing weapon and during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon remaining at the region at least in the neighborhood of the elevation axis;
- said firing weapon containing a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to said weapon barrel axis at said outfeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- each cartridge of said cartridges possessing a center of gravity;
- said cartridges being located within said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel such that said centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix;
- each cartridge of said cartridges defines a cartridge axis;
- said cartridge axes of the cartridges located within said substantially helical cartridge feed channel defining an approximately helicoidal surface;
- said helix substantially along which there are positioned said centers of gravity of the cartridges within said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel being located on a surface of an imaginary cylinder; and
- said cartridge axes being tangent to the surface of said imaginary cylinder at said centers of gravity of the cartridges.
- 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- a predeterminate elevation of said firing weapon defining an elevation in which said weapon barrel of said firing weapon is substantially horizontally aligned; and
- said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel being located at a lower level than said outfeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel when said weapon barrel of said firing weapon is in substantially horizontally aligned elevation.
- 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- said supply means comprises a stationary cartridge container.
- 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- said supply means comprises a stationary cartridge feed channel.
- 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- the cartridges are substantially coaxially arranged with respect to the elevation axis at said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel.
- 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- each cartridge has a tip and a base;
- the tips as well as the bases of neighboring cartridges within the substantially non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel being respectively located at a predetermined distance from one another; and
- the tips of neighboring cartridges being located at least at approximately the same predetermined distance from one another as the bases of neighboring cartridges located within the substantially non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel.
- 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein:
- said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel which is located at the region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis of the firing weapon during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon rotating about the elevation axis.
- 9. An apparatus for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon adjustable in elevation about an elevation axis, said apparatus comprising:
- supply means for cartridges to be transported to a region at least in a neighborhood of the elevation axis of the firing weapon;
- deflection means cooperating with the supply means for deflecting the cartridges according to a given elevation of the firing weapon and for infeeding the cartridges into the firing weapon;
- said deflection means comprising a substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel connected to the firing weapon;
- said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel defining an infeed opening and an outfeed opening;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to the elevation axis at said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- said infeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel being located at the region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis of the firing weapon and during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon remaining at the region at least in the neighborhood of the elevation axis;
- said firing weapon containing a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to said weapon barrel axis at said outfeed opening of said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel;
- each cartridge of said cartridges possessing a center of gravity;
- said cartridges being located within said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel such that said centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix; and
- said substantially helical non-flexible cartridge feed channel is wound about an imaginary cylinder having a cylinder axis inclined through an angle of approximately 45.degree. in relation to said elevation axis and with respect to said weapon barrel axis.
- 10. An apparatus for feeding cartridges to an elevatable firing weapon, comprising:
- deflection means for deflecting the cartridges according to a predetermined elevation of the elevatable firing weapon and for infeeding the cartridges into the firing weapon;
- said deflection means comprising a non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel mounted on the firing weapon;
- said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel defining an infeed opening and an outfeed opening;
- said firing weapon defining an elevation axis;
- the cartridges being substantially parallely arranged with respect to said elevation axis at said infeed opening of said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel;
- said infeed opening of said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel being located adjacent to said elevation axis of the firing weapon and during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon remaining adjacent the elevation axis;
- said firing weapon containing a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis;
- said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel being wound about an imaginary cylinder having a cylinder axis inclined through a substantially identical angle with respect to the elevation axis and the weapon barrel axis;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to said weapon barrel axis at said outfeed opening of said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel;
- each cartridge of the cartridges possessing a center of gravity; and
- the cartridges being located within said non-flexible substantially helical cartridge feed channel such that said centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix.
- 11. An apparatus for feeding cartridges to an elevatable firing weapon, comprising:
- deflection means for deflecting the cartridges according to a predetermined elevation of the elevatable firing weapon and for infeeding the cartridges into the firing weapon;
- said deflection means comprising a rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel mounted on the firing weapon;
- said rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel defining an infeed opening and an outfeed opening;
- said firing weapon defining an elevation axis and a region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis;
- said firing weapon containing a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis;
- said rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel from the infeed opening to the outfeed opening of said cartridges is wound about an imaginary cylinder having a cylinder axis inclined at an angle which is substantially the same angle in relation to said elevation axis and in relation to said weapon barrel axis;
- said infeed opening of said rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel being located at the region at least in the neighborhood of said elevation axis of the firing weapon and during adjustment of the elevation of the firing weapon remaining at the region at least in the neighborhood of the elevation axis;
- the cartridges being arranged substantially parallel to said weapon barrel axis at said outfeed opening of said rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel;
- each cartridge of the cartridges possessing a center of gravity; and
- the cartridges being located within said rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel such that said centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix.
- 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein:
- said angle at which said cylinder axis is inclined in relation to said elevation axis and in relation to said weapon barrel axis, amounts to essentially 45.degree..
- 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein:
- each cartridge has a tip portion and a base portion;
- the tip portions as well as the base portions of neighboring cartridges within the rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel being respectively located at a predetermined spacing from one another; and
- the predetermined spacing between the tip portions of neighboring cartridges within the rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel being at least approximately equal to the predetermined spacing of the base portions of the neighboring cartridges within the rigid substantially helical cartridge feed channel.
Priority Claims (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 02355/85 |
Jun 1985 |
CHX |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part application of the commonly assigned, co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 06/864,773, filed May 19, 1986, and entitled "APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING CARTRIDGES TO A FIRING WEAPON WITH AN ELEVATION CONTROL SYSTEM" now abandoned.
The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of an apparatus for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon adjustable to a desired elevation about an elevation axis.
In its more particular aspects, the present invention specifically relates to a new and improved construction of an apparatus for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon adjustable to a desired elevation about an elevation axis, and which apparatus contains deflection means for deflecting the cartridges according to the given elevation of the firing weapon and for guiding or infeeding such cartridges into the firing weapon.
It is common practice to construct such deflection mechanisms using plate channel arrangements. Such a plate channel arrangement is described in German patent No. 3,204,499, published Aug. 18, 1983. Individual discs of the plate channel arrangement are supported by bearings in three different locations permitting plate rotation. Furthermore, the discs are interconnected by means of a gearing or transmission mechanism with decreasing reduction or gearing ratios from plate to plate. In addition, these discs are interconnected with the weapon as well as with the stationary channel by means of flexible links.
In lieu of a plate channel, it is also feasible to use a flexible channel. U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,005 describes a flexible feed channel. The ammunition is transported from a stationary container to a rapid-fire weapon, e.g. a Gatling cannon, by means of such a flexible feed channel. This however, exposes the flexible channel to a considerable amount of bending and twisting loads.
All of these known feeding systems are afflicted with severe drawbacks such as those described below:
(a) A plate channel system limits the useable elevation range. The weapon can be pivoted by .+-.45.degree. with respect to an initial reference or middle position.
Therefore, shooting problems will arise either on the horizon or in zenith during weapon firing.
(b) A plate channel system requires a lot of space inherent with a large mass which needs to be accelerated and decelerated.
(c) Flexible feed channels are exposed to excessive wear. They also exhibit long dimensions and are thus cumbersome.
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction of an apparatus for feeding cartridges to an elevatable firing weapon which does not exhibit the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings of the prior art constructions.
Another object of the present invention aims at providing a new and improved construction of an apparatus of the previously mentioned type for reliable deflection of cartridges and which apparatus has a minimum number of constructional components.
Still another significant object of the present invention aims at providing a new and improved construction of an apparatus of the character described which is relatively simple in construction and design, highly reliable in operation and easy to handle.
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the apparatus of the present invention is manifested by the features that, among other things, it comprises a deflecting or deflection device including a substantially rigid or non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel fastened to the weapon. The cartridges are positioned substantially parallel to, for instance, essentially coaxially with respect to the elevation axis of the firing weapon at the infeed aperture or opening of the deflection device and the cartridges are positioned essentially in parallel to the weapon barrel axis of the weapon at the exit or outfeed aperture of the deflection device, whereby the cartridges located within the cartridge feed channel form a helix as seen along their centers of gravity. The centers of gravity of the cartridges are located substantially along such helix.
Preferably, the axis of this helix is to be inclined by 45.degree. with respect to the elevation axis as well as with respect to the weapon barrel axis, thus causing cartridges located within the cartridge feed channel to be deflected or turned by 90.degree..
In other words, the apparatus of the present invention for feeding cartridges from a stationary container to a firing weapon is manifested by the features that the deflection device or deflection means comprises a substantially rigid or non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel. The substantially rigid or non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel defines an infeed opening and an outfeed opening. The cartridges are arranged at the region of or adjacent to the elevation axis and are preferably substantially coaxially arranged with respect to the elevation axis at the infeed opening of the substantially rigid or non-flexible helical cartridge feed channel. The firing weapon contains a weapon barrel defining a weapon barrel axis. The cartridges are arranged substantially parallel to the weapon barrel axis at the outfeed opening of the substantially helical cartridge feed channel. Each cartridge of the cartridges possesses a center of gravity and the cartridges are located within the substantially helical cartridge feed channel such that the centers of gravity are positioned substantially along a helix.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 876888 |
Nov 1942 |
FRX |
| 301283 |
May 1968 |
SEX |
| 1337388 |
Nov 1973 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
| Entry |
| General Electric Company, Vulcan Air DeFense System, 1/76. |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
864773 |
May 1986 |
|
Patent Grant
4898069
